A “Triumph” for Science, or merely for Scientists?
February 27, 2007
There is news from the UK, home of the ethical slippery-slope, that a campaign by scientists to undermine a highly unusual effort on the part of the government to say no to the production of hybrid embryos has paid off. The government has pulled back. Hybrid embryos, the latest sine qua non for cures through embryo stem cell research through cloning, are now on the cards. Once more the UK is way out of step with most of the western democracies (which are liable to send you to jail for doing things like that, not give you funding), but this time the policymakers do not seem to have gone down without a fight – itself driven by public opinion.
One of the great unknowns of biopolicy development, especially in Europe, lies in the question whether at some stage the vast impetus of opposition to genetically-modified foods will move to crush outlandish developments in human biology too; and whether provocative moves like this one will finally serve to strength biocritics.
At the same time, the credibility of scientists is on the line. Do we want them to serve as lobbyists? Is that good for democracy, and, finally, is it good for science? Should generals lobby for a war? Whatever their motives (and we assume they go beyond their love of grant funding), the spectacle is unedifying and, finally, could prove counter-productive. Scientists in the early 20th century have retained the status of demi-gods in our technophile and disease-fearing culture. There are many reasons why their image is slipping. Scientist-as-entrepreneur has already clouded the picture. The emergence of scientist-as-lobbyist could add another cause of doubt.
The Times (London)
February 27, 2007, Tuesday
SECTION: HOME NEWS; Pg. 7
LENGTH: 611 words
HEADLINE: Scientists triumph in battle over ban on hybrid embryos
BYLINE: Mark Henderson, Science Editor
BODY:
* Proposal for legal curbs to be dropped
* Fears for British science led to move
Plans to outlaw the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for potentially life-saving stem cell research are to be dropped after a revolt by scientists.
The proposed government ban on fusing human DNA with animal eggs, which promises insights into incurable conditions such as Alzheimer’s and motor neuron disease, will be abandoned because of concerns among senior ministers that it will damage British science.
While ministers will not endorse the research in full yet, they are no longer seeking legislation to prohibit it, The Times has learnt. The Government will instead provide the fertility watchdog with funds for a public debate on the subject before new laws are drafted.
